South Midlands

The South Midlands is an area of England. The term is not widely used and it is not one of the English administative regions. Its main usage is as a label for one of the areas identified by the Government for urban development. The area comprises the districts of Corby, Daventry, East Northamptonshire, Kettering,Northampton, South Northamptonshire, Wellingborough, Bedford, Mid Bedfordshire, South Bedfordshire and Aylesbury Vale. [http://www.emra.gov.uk/publications/documents/mksms-ch1.pdf Page 1] ] The main settlements are Aylesbury, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Bedford, Luton, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough.

According to a report [http://www.emra.gov.uk/publications/documents/mksms-ch8.pdf] commissioned by the Deputy Prime Minister (as Minister for Local Government, "The most successful economies are those of Milton Keynes and Northampton. Bedford, Corby and Luton/Dunstable/Houghton Regis are in need of regeneration."

Some Joint Industrial Councils defined the South Midlands as Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, and the Channel Islands, most of which would not usually be considered part of the area.

Extent

The government area is defined as

From Northamptonshire:
*Corby
*Daventry
*East Northamptonshire
*Kettering
*Northampton
*South Northamptonshire
*Wellingborough

From Bedfordshire:
*Bedford
*Luton
*Mid Bedfordshire
*South Bedfordshire

From Buckinghamshire:
*Aylesbury Vale
*Milton Keynes

It is split between three Government Office Regions - East Midlands, East of England and South East England.

External links

* Milton Keynes and South Midlands Study - a strategic appraisal and development study for the Department of Local Government and Environment, chapters [http://www.emra.gov.uk/publications/documents/mksms-ch1.pdf one (overview)] , [http://www.emra.gov.uk/publications/documents/mksms-ch2.pdf two] , [http://www.emra.gov.uk/publications/documents/mksms-ch3.pdf three] , [http://www.emra.gov.uk/publications/documents/mksms-ch4.pdf four] , [http://www.emra.gov.uk/publications/documents/mksms-ch5.pdf five] , [http://www.emra.gov.uk/publications/documents/mksms-ch6.pdf six] , [http://www.emra.gov.uk/publications/documents/mksms-ch7.pdf seven] , and [http://www.emra.gov.uk/publications/documents/mksms-ch8.pdf eight (conclusion)]

References